Yesterday, I spent some time with a good friend of mine, a business man in Coral Gables, Florida. My friend is not an avid church goer, probably attending church services a few times a year.
Last week, someone invited him to go to one of the biggest churches in Dade County to hear a well-known preacher. He obliged his colleague and attended this packed meeting. Sadly, enough, the preacher was one of these guys who asks for money and promises all sorts of heavenly blessings in proportion to how much folk give him.
This guy reminded me of a TV preacher in New Mexico, who promised that God would send a “financial angel” to those who gave $1,000.00. I muttered to myself, “Will God send me a financial angel if I only have $999.00?”
I was in TV broadcasting for twenty one years before being released into ministry. I was doing master control when this guy articulated these lofty words. Moments later, the phone lines were crammed with people rushing to give their $1,000.00. We could not keep up with the pledges.
I was in TV broadcasting for twenty one years before being released into ministry. I was doing master control when this guy articulated these lofty words. Moments later, the phone lines were crammed with people rushing to give their $1,000.00. We could not keep up with the pledges.
In Kenya, where the demon of poverty has a strangle hold on society, the same phenomena occurs. A preacher takes a one dollar American bill and sells it for $70.00, promising the Kenyan, the same prosperity as the American. The masses rush to the altar, trading a month’s worth of wages, phones, eyeglasses, and even their homes and lands.
Some leave these meetings not able to see and others can’t afford purchasing another phone for a year.
Some leave these meetings not able to see and others can’t afford purchasing another phone for a year.
Another Kenyan preacher sells anointed oil from America for $50.00 a bottle, promising the same results and the same phenomena befalls.
People all over the world are desperate for a miracle. Some are dying from cancer. Others have a shattered family, and yet others are traversing through real financial duress. The promise of an instantaneous answer is enough for these naïve and gullible folk to fall into the hands of these “wolves in sheep clothing.”
God is not like that. It is men and women like these who give God, Christians and the church a bad name.
I was deeply disappointed that the single time that my friend ventured to attend church; he was encountered by one of these shysters. I wonder when he will go again.
I am a Christian, a pastor, a Bible teacher and a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had to apologize to him in the name of us preachers who have been given the sacred calling of dispatching the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the highest standards of integrity and purity.
I am not like these swindlers, and neither are many of us preachers, and less so Jesus Christ, Himself.
Today, to all my Blog land friends, I ask you on behalf of these corrupt teachers to forgive us this great sin, if you have indeed been affected by it, and it has caused you to be repelled from going to church. It is truly a tragedy, which God will judge and deal with.
God has called us preachers to be the most honest, transparent, and accessible people on the whole planet.
There is nothing else that I can say, except that I am sorry.
